Collaboration Can Bring Digital Innovation to Life Insurance

There is a view that the life insurance business needs to change or to innovate in order to remain relevant and reach new customers; if incumbent players don’t make an environment that appeals to new customers, someone else will step in and do it in their place.

It’s possible that big data warehouses - or mobile and digital operators - will mass market life and health insurance protection to their customers, based on the data they have about them. While we can’t rule it out, this outcome is unlikely for multiple reasons.

For a start, life insurance is not a simple transaction and access to it is selected. It requires capital, distribution channels, underwriting and claims expertise, product knowledge and actuarial know-how. While these challenges may deter new entrants, they are not insurmountable obstacles.

Technology offers new ways to manage risk that rely less on face-to-face disclosure and traditional clinical assessments. This is why we see so much interest in understanding how innovation might work.

Healthcare is adopting artificial intelligence, virtual reality, machine learning, sensors, and other innovative technologies - including genomics - to deliver a more patient-centric approach. Insurance can similarly transform by adopting more customer-centric solutions.

In healthcare, digital channels and mobile health solutions are welcomed when they blend with traditional methods and work simply. For insurers this could mean placing innovation into spaces where it helps customers and where it makes sense to augment existing ways.

This means the focus is on how we engage with people and offer them services linked to ensuring their health. The focus can move from life protection to life enablement, support that helps people lead a long and healthy life.

The industry needs the energy, innovative vision and technical skills of entrepreneurs. In turn, entrepreneurs need the network, customer base and data - as well the insurance expertise - brought by insurers and reinsurers. Working together we can create an environment where people will share their personal data, knowing we can be trusted to use it appropriately, to keep it safe, and as a force for good. To do this means examining the emerging digital options and working out how to optimise the benefits to our customers.